Biology subjects

Vvedenskaya, I. O.

Publications and source records attributed to Vvedenskaya, I. O..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Quantitative analysis of transcription start site selection in Saccharomyces cerevisiae determines contributions of DNA sequence and RNA Polymerase II activity

Transcription start site (TSS) selection is a key step in gene expression and occurs at many promoter positions over a wide range of efficiencies. Here, we develop a massively parallel reporter assay to quantitatively dissect contributions of promoter sequence, NTP substrate levels, and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) activity to TSS selection by "promoter scanning" in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Pol II MAssively Systematic Transcript End Readout, "Pol II MASTER"). Using Pol II MASTER, we measure the efficiency of Pol II initiation at 1,000,000 individual TSS sequences in a defined promoter context. Pol II MASTER confirms proposed critical qualities of S. cerevisiae TSS -8, -1, and +1 positions quantitatively in a controlled promoter context. Pol II MASTER extends quantitative analysis to surrounding sequences and determines that they tune initiation over a wide range of efficiencies. These results enabled the development of a predictive model for initiation efficiency based on sequence. We show that genetic perturbation of Pol II catalytic activity alters initiation efficiency mostly independently of TSS sequence, but selectively modulates preference for initiating nucleotide. Intriguingly, we find that Pol II initiation efficiency is directly sensitive to GTP levels at the first five transcript positions and to CTP and UTP levels at the second position genome wide. These results suggest individual NTP levels can have transcript-specific effects on initiation, representing a cryptic layer of potential regulation at the level of Pol II biochemical properties. The results establish Pol II MASTER as a method for quantitative dissection of transcription initiation in eukaryotes.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Ssl2/TFIIH Function in Transcription Start Site Scanning by RNA Polymerase II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) selects transcription start sites (TSS) by a unidirectional scanning process. During scanning, a preinitiation complex (PIC) assembled at an upstream core promoter initiates at select positions within a window [~]40-120 basepairs downstream. Several lines of evidence indicate that Ssl2, the yeast homolog of XPB and an essential and conserved subunit of the general transcription factor (GTF) TFIIH, drives scanning through its DNA-dependent ATPase activity, therefore potentially controlling both scanning rate and scanning extent (processivity). To address questions of how Ssl2 functions in promoter scanning and interacts with other initiation activities, we leveraged distinct initiation-sensitive reporters to identify novel ssl2 alleles. These ssl2 alleles, many of which alter residues conserved from yeast to human, confer either upstream or downstream TSS shifts at the model promoter ADH1 and genome-wide. Specifically, tested ssl2 alleles alter TSS selection by increasing or narrowing the distribution of TSSs used at individual promoters. Genetic interactions of ssl2 alleles with other initiation factors are consistent with ssl2 allele classes functioning through increasing or decreasing scanning processivity but not necessarily scanning rate. These alleles underpin a residue interaction network that likely modulates Ssl2 activity and TFIIH function in promoter scanning. We propose that the outcome of promoter scanning is determined by two functional networks, the first being Pol II activity and factors that modulate it to determine initiation efficiency within a scanning window, and the second being Ssl2/TFIIH and factors that modulate scanning processivity to determine the width of the scanning widow.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Promoter-sequence determinants and structural basis of primer-dependent transcription initiation in Escherichia coli

Chemical modifications of RNA 5' ends enable "epitranscriptomic" regulation, influencing multiple aspects of RNA fate. In transcription initiation, a large inventory of substrates compete with nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) for use as initiating entities, providing an ab initio mechanism for altering the RNA 5' end. In Escherichia coli cells, RNAs with a 5'-end hydroxyl are generated by use of dinucleotide RNAs as primers for transcription initiation, "primer-dependent initiation." Here we use massively systematic transcript end readout ("MASTER") to detect and quantify RNA 5' ends generated by primer-dependent initiation for ~410 (~1,000,000) promoter sequences in E. coli. The results show primer-dependent initiation in E. coli involves any of the 16 possible dinucleotide primers and depends on promoter sequences in, upstream, and downstream of the primer binding site. The results yield a consensus sequence for primer-dependent initiation, YTSS-2NTSS-1NTSSWTSS+1, where TSS is the transcription start site, NTSS-1NTSS is the primer binding site, Y is pyrimidine, and W is A or T. Biochemical and structure-determination studies show that the base pair (nontemplate-strand base:template-strand base) immediately upstream of the primer binding site (Y:RTSS-2, where R is purine) exerts its effect through the base on the DNA template strand (RTSS-2) through inter-chain base stacking with the RNA primer. Results from analysis of a large set of natural, chromosomally-encoded E. coli promoters support the conclusions from MASTER. Our findings provide a mechanistic and structural description of how TSS-region sequence hard-codes not only the TSS position, but also the potential for epitranscriptomic regulation through primer-dependent transcription initiation.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

XACT-seq comprehensively defines the promoter-position and promoter-sequence determinants for initial-transcription pausing

Pausing by RNA polymerase (RNAP) during transcription elongation, in which a translocating RNAP uses a "stepping" mechanism, has been studied extensively, but pausing by RNAP during initial transcription, in which a promoter-anchored RNAP uses a "scrunching" mechanism, has not. We report a method that directly defines RNAP-active-center position relative to DNA in vivo with single-nucleotide resolution (XACT-seq; crosslink-between-active-center-and-template sequencing). We apply this method to detect and quantify pausing in initial transcription at 411 ([~]4,000,000) promoter sequences in vivo, in Escherichia coli. The results show initial-transcription pausing can occur in each nucleotide addition during initial transcription, particularly the first 4-5 nucleotide additions. The results further show initial-transcription pausing occurs at sequences that resemble the consensus sequence element for transcription-elongation pausing. Our findings define the positional and sequence determinants for initial-transcription pausing and establish initial-transcription pausing is hard-coded by sequence elements similar to those for transcription-elongation pausing.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Detection of Spacer Precursors Formed In Vivo During Primed CRISPR Adaptation

Type I CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-Cas (CRISPR associated) loci provide prokaryotes with a nucleic-acid-based adaptive immunity against foreign DNA1. Immunity involves \"adaptation,\" the integration of ~30-bp DNA fragments into the CRISPR array as \"spacer\" sequences, and \"interference,\" the targeted degradation of DNA containing a \"protospacer\" sequence mediated by a complex containing a spacer-derived CRISPR RNA (crRNA)1-4. Specificity for targeting interference to protospacers, but not spacers, occurs through recognition of a 3-bp protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)5 by the crRNA-containing complex6. Interference-driven DNA degradation of protospacer-containing DNA can be coupled with \"primed adaptation,\" ill which spacers are acquired from DNA surrounding the targeted protospacer in a bidirectional, orientation-dependent manner2,3,7. Here we construct a robust in vivo model for primed adaptation consisting of an Escherichia coli type I-E CRISPR-Cas \"self-targeting\" locus encoding a crRNA that targets a chromosomal protospacer. We develop a strand-specific, high-throughput-sequencing method for analysis of DNA fragments, \"FragSeq,\" and use this method to detect short fragments derived from DNA surrounding the targeted protospacer. The detected fragments have sequences matching spacers acquired during primed adaptation, contain ~3- to 4-nt overhangs derived from excision of genomic DNA within a PAM, are generated in a bidirectional, orientation-dependent manner relative to the targeted protospacer, require the functional integrity of machinery for interference and adaptation to accumulate, and function as spacer precursors when exogenously introduced into cells by transformation. DNA fragments with a similar structure accumulate in cells undergoing primed adaptation in a type I-F CRISPR-Cas self-targeting system. We propose the DNA fragments detected in this work are products of universal steps of spacer precursor processing in type I CRISPR-Cas systems.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

“CapZyme-Seq” comprehensively defines promoter-sequence determinants for RNA 5’ capping with NAD+

Nucleoside-containing metabolites such as NAD+ can be incorporated as \"5' caps\" on RNA by serving as non-canonical initiating nucleotides (NCINs) for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase (RNAP). Here, we report \"CapZyme-Seq,\" a high-throughput-sequencing method that employs NCIN-decapping enzymes NudC and Rai1 to detect and quantify NCIN-capped RNA. By combining CapZyme-Seq with multiplexed transcriptomics, we determine efficiencies of NAD+ capping by Escherichia coli RNAP for ~16,000 promoter sequences. The results define preferred transcription start-site (TSS) positions for NAD+ capping and define a consensus promoter sequence for NAD+ capping: HRRASWW (TSS underlined). By applying CapZyme-Seq to E. coli total cellular RNA, we establish that sequence determinants for NCIN capping in vivo match the NAD+-capping consensus defined in vitro, and we identify and quantify NCIN-capped small RNAs. Our findings define the promoter-sequence determinants for NCIN capping with NAD+ and provide a general method for analysis of NCIN capping in vitro and in vivo.

biochemistry↗